Real Madrid – Benzema
4/10 draw 37/10 7/1
The predictable Spanish La Liga hasn’t quite followed its storyline this season. The team that has upset the usual Barcelona and Real Madrid domination at the top of the table has been Atletico Madrid. It’s been an amazing season for Atletico as they find themselves in second place behind Barcelona by just three points and are eight points clear of local rivals Real Madrid. This weekend will prove just how ready they are to push for the title as they contest the Madrid Derby against local rivals Real. What makes this season’s derby mouth-watering is that Atletico are ahead of struggling Real in the league for the first time in 14 years.
It’s a sad situation for Jose Mourinho’s La Liga champions. They trail title rivals Barcelona by 11 points. Real only lost two games and dropped 14 points on their way to the title last season, but have already tasted defeat three times in 13 games and dropped 13 points this season. Their title defence suffered another setback last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Real Betis. Betis pounced on an error to score after 17 minutes and Jose Mourinho’s team ran out of steam and ideas as they chased the game in the second half. They sometimes look a shadow of last season’s team. There’s in-fighting among the coaching staff and among the players. There are mistakes, and plenty of them. Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he was unhappy earlier in the campaign and it showed. Mesut Ozil has been below par and Iker Casillas hasn’t been his usual, assured self. However despite their inconsistency this season they have kept the Bernabeu a fortress. Madrid are unbeaten in their six home matches, winning five and drawing one. They have scored 20 goals, conceding just three.
Atletico enter the derby with a morale boosting 4-0 victory over Sevilla. Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan and Koke got first-half goals and Miranda one in the last minute to boast a 100% record at the Vicente Calderon with seven wins out of seven against Sevilla who were reduced to 10 men from the 22nd minute and eventually finished with nine. Atletico have scored 34 points out of a possible 39 making them one of the most in-form sides in Europe. This start to the season is the continuation of what they were already doing last season, when manager Diego Simeone arrived (at the end of December 2011). The Argentines work has been magnificent. Atletico finished fifth last season and were crowned Europa League champions after beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final. Colombian Falcao is, without a doubt, one of football’s hottest properties right now. The striker is in red-hot form and taking Atletico to new heights. He has 11 goals in La Liga so far this season, just one behind Cristiano Ronaldo, however he is some way off the untouchable Messi’s impressive 19 strikes.
Real Madrid have dominated the derby and last lost to Atletico way in 1999. Meaning they are now unbeaten in the last 23 Madrid derbies, of which they have won 17. Their home form has been excellent while Atletico have only scored eight goals in their six away matches, even though they have lost just once on the road. At home Real Madrid have to be favoured to claim the victory.
